Board vote will result in closure of Bayside School in Sausalito

Despite protests, the Sausalito Marin City School Board voted 4-1 to move ahead with financing for modular classrooms Thursday night, a move that will result in the closure of the Bayside Elementary school campus in Sausalito.

The new classrooms — which will cost about $3.5 million — will be set up at the Martin Luther King Jr. Academy in Marin City. It will be converted from a middle to a K-8 campus to accommodate the students from Bayside, where some classrooms will be taken over by the district's K-8 charter school, Willow Creek Academy.

The change creates two schools in the district: MLK and the decade-old Willow Creek school, which is governed by its own board.

Critics worry the plan will create a racial divide and a situation where poor students who do not have the same financial resources or parental advocacy will end up at the Marin City school, while children who have stronger support will attend the Sausalito campus.

"History tells us separate is not equal," said Marie Simmons of Sausalito, one of more than a dozen people who spoke against the move at the meeting.

Supporters say the move will save the district dollars, create a local, full K-8 school for Marin City residents and most importantly allow for an improved education program. The district wants to institute an International Baccalaureate learning program that has a focus on college preparation and officials said it will be impossible to run on two small campuses.

School board president Bill Ziegler said the move had to be made to improve programs and to avoid the district going over a financial cliff in three years.

"Academic concerns have been a primary concern for us," he said.

School board member Shirley Thornton cast the lone dissent.

"I don't believe we are ready," she said. "I feel we are moving backwards. I don't believe we can look at our children and say, 'what we are doing for you is the best thing for you.'"

The new format will begin with the new school year this fall.

Willow Creek — which is growing — will use the Bayside campus on Nevada Street to grow by up to three classrooms this fall.

Backers of the consolidation note the district will save at least $250,000 and as much as $450,000 annually as duplications found largely outside the classroom will be eliminated at a time when district revenue is declining.

School officials noted that Willow Creek is racially diverse and is open to anyone within the school district, including those who attend Bayside now.